Comments on: Women Choose Elective C-Sections Due to Fear http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/ Health News for Thinking Women & Parents Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:10:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kristie http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1878 Kristie Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:21:22 +0000 http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1878 That's a good point Michelle. I had a bit of a battle over my VBAC with the OB that supervised my midwife's practice. He decided that since I'd had a preemie, he didn't believe that I'd had a true low transverse c-section. Once I finally got him to read all my records, my choice won out. Unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons why some hospitals don't allow VBACS, whether it's a malpractice or liability insurance issue, a staffing issue, or whatever. It doesn't really sound like you had much of a choice when the other option would have forced you to drive so far, while in labor. I'm glad that your babies made it into the world safely! That’s a good point Michelle. I had a bit of a battle over my VBAC with the OB that supervised my midwife’s practice. He decided that since I’d had a preemie, he didn’t believe that I’d had a true low transverse c-section. Once I finally got him to read all my records, my choice won out.

Unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons why some hospitals don’t allow VBACS, whether it’s a malpractice or liability insurance issue, a staffing issue, or whatever. It doesn’t really sound like you had much of a choice when the other option would have forced you to drive so far, while in labor. I’m glad that your babies made it into the world safely!

]]> By: Michelle Gartner http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1877 Michelle Gartner Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:32:23 +0000 http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1877 Some people do not elect to do c-sections. They are pushed into it and it is their only option. I had my first two sons vaginally over a decade ago, my second son was a breeze and had me believing that if I ever had children again it would be natural. My third son born nine years later was breech and this was not discovered until I was pushing and nothing happened. He was an emergency c-section. My next two children were c-sections as well. Not because I chose a c-section, the hospital in my county does not allow v-bac because of insurance reasons. I could have driven over an hour away and given birth in the city, without my regular ob and far from my children and visitors. My last c-section went well- it was an emergency c-section. My son was an "accident," I was breast feeding and on the mini pill and yet he came along. We had no dates to go by. The start of my labor I had severe chest pains, and was rushed to the emergency room. It's rare but cardiac problems are sometimes the start of labor- especially for older Mom's such as myself. Whatever the motivation, c-sections were the best choice for me and my living children. Some people do not elect to do c-sections. They are pushed into it and it is their only option. I had my first two sons vaginally over a decade ago, my second son was a breeze and had me believing that if I ever had children again it would be natural.

My third son born nine years later was breech and this was not discovered until I was pushing and nothing happened. He was an emergency c-section. My next two children were c-sections as well. Not because I chose a c-section, the hospital in my county does not allow v-bac because of insurance reasons. I could have driven over an hour away and given birth in the city, without my regular ob and far from my children and visitors. My last c-section went well- it was an emergency c-section. My son was an “accident,” I was breast feeding and on the mini pill and yet he came along. We had no dates to go by. The start of my labor I had severe chest pains, and was rushed to the emergency room. It’s rare but cardiac problems are sometimes the start of labor- especially for older Mom’s such as myself. Whatever the motivation, c-sections were the best choice for me and my living children.

]]> By: Kristie http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1873 Kristie Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:50:34 +0000 http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1873 I agree with you about people needing to work this out together with their doctors. It still boggles my mind that people think an elective c-section sounds great! I was so disappointed when I ended up in the hospital with #2, knowing that she was breach and would almost certainly arrive too early to make a version an option for us. Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll have to look for it the next time I haul the brood to the library. I read a really great memoir of a midwife's life (I'll try to dig up the title) while I was pregnant with #3, and it inspired me to really think and learn more about natural child birth. Of course, I woke up in such intense pain when I went into labor with him that I thought my insides were being ripped out, and I ended up getting an epidural again because I ran out of coping mechanisms before I ever even got to the hospital. I agree with you about people needing to work this out together with their doctors. It still boggles my mind that people think an elective c-section sounds great! I was so disappointed when I ended up in the hospital with #2, knowing that she was breach and would almost certainly arrive too early to make a version an option for us.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll have to look for it the next time I haul the brood to the library. I read a really great memoir of a midwife’s life (I’ll try to dig up the title) while I was pregnant with #3, and it inspired me to really think and learn more about natural child birth. Of course, I woke up in such intense pain when I went into labor with him that I thought my insides were being ripped out, and I ended up getting an epidural again because I ran out of coping mechanisms before I ever even got to the hospital.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1872 Michelle Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:49:11 +0000 http://www.kristiemcnealy.com/women-choose-elective-c-sections-due-to-fear/#comment-1872 Heck No! Everybody has to make their own decisions with their Drs, but I really think c-sections should only be performed if there is a real medical reason for it. I've read that vaginal deliveries are best both for mom and baby. I had my son vaginally with no drugs. I did a lot of research in advance and chose to try for a drug free birth. Of, course I had no idea what would happen since I never had a baby before, but thankfully I was able to do it. In large part b/c I delivered at a birth center with a philosophy of no drugs, let the mom move around, not being hooked up to a fetal heart monitor constantly (they used the dopler thing that they put up against your belly) etc. I almost did end up with a c-section though. Three weeks before I had my son we found out that he flipped from head down to a breech position. I had an external version done (where the Dr. pushes the baby back into position by pushing on your belly) and they were able to get him back to head down. If they hadn't been able to flip him, I would have had a c-section. My Dr didn't do vaginal delivery for breech babies. I found Naomi Wolfe's book, Misconceptions, to be a great introduction to all things pregnancy and childbirth (the realistic side, not the hearts and flowers and everything is wonderful side). She does a great job covering the topic of increased number of c-sections in the US. There was a post on this topic on the WSJ work and family blog called "The Juggle" a few weeks ago. The comments were very diverse - everything from absolutely have an elective c-section, to no way it is terrible idea. Heck No! Everybody has to make their own decisions with their Drs, but I really think c-sections should only be performed if there is a real medical reason for it. I’ve read that vaginal deliveries are best both for mom and baby. I had my son vaginally with no drugs. I did a lot of research in advance and chose to try for a drug free birth. Of, course I had no idea what would happen since I never had a baby before, but thankfully I was able to do it. In large part b/c I delivered at a birth center with a philosophy of no drugs, let the mom move around, not being hooked up to a fetal heart monitor constantly (they used the dopler thing that they put up against your belly) etc. I almost did end up with a c-section though. Three weeks before I had my son we found out that he flipped from head down to a breech position. I had an external version done (where the Dr. pushes the baby back into position by pushing on your belly) and they were able to get him back to head down. If they hadn’t been able to flip him, I would have had a c-section. My Dr didn’t do vaginal delivery for breech babies.

I found Naomi Wolfe’s book, Misconceptions, to be a great introduction to all things pregnancy and childbirth (the realistic side, not the hearts and flowers and everything is wonderful side). She does a great job covering the topic of increased number of c-sections in the US.

There was a post on this topic on the WSJ work and family blog called “The Juggle” a few weeks ago. The comments were very diverse - everything from absolutely have an elective c-section, to no way it is terrible idea.

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